WHARF LABOURERS

New Zealand Times, Volume XL, Issue 9093, 12 July 1915, Page 9

WHARF LABOURERS

Allegations as to the victimisation of wharf labourers at Auckland and Greymouth in connection with the new unions 'which were established at the time of the strike, were brought under the notice of the Prime Minister on Saturday by a deputation, which was accompanied by Messrs Hindmarsh, Glover, Coates, Isitt, J. S. Dickson, and Poland, M.P.’s. Mr E. Kennedy, secretary of the Wellington Labourers’ Union, and Mr G. Bruce, secretary of the Wellington Waterside Workers’ Union, acted as spokesmen. Specific instances were given of how men bad been refused registration by preference committees which had been set up and resorted to all sorts of humbug. Applicants for enrolment were subjected to severe and irrelevant cross-examination, and after weeks of waiting were scornfully rejected. Tho Arbitration Court, it was pointed out, had ruled that if the principle of preferential employment of unionists was to be observed, there must be an open door to tho unions. The men were willing to “bury the hatchet,” and many employers were willing to distribute employment fairly, but the unions were raising a formidable block, and the appeal was mad© to Mr Massey as Minister for Labour to see that fair play and justice were meted out. Some forty men, it was stated, had been rejected by the Auckland Union, and had to com© to Wellington to seek employment. Mr Massey, in reply, said he was altogether opposed to any kind of victimisation being resorted to. It was quite time the hatchet was buried regarding the 1913 strike. It appeared that one clause of the new Auckland wharf workers’ agreement prevented any member' of the Federation of Labour becoming a member of the union. Rightly or wrongly the clause was there, and the law allowed it. The conditions at Greymouth were almost exactly similar. To secure the open door desired would possibly require special legislation. “Will you bring down that legislation?” the Prime Minister was asked. “What I propose to do,” said Mr Massey, “is to consult with the President of the Arbitration Court— Mr Justice Stringer. I think His Honour and I will bo able to arrange some way out of the unfortunate difficulty that has arisen.” This assurance was regarded as satisfactory by tho deputation, Mr Kennedy remarking that the workers would be quite prepared to abide by any decision of Mr Justice Stringer. -